Passage for reflection: Psalm 62:5-6
photo by Greg Smith
Recent news headlines demonstrate the heaviness of the present moment. Nearly 400,000 Americans have died from COVID-19. Domestic terrorists engaged in an insurrection in our nation’s capital. Hungry people wait for hours in their vehicles at food banks for the opportunity to feed their families.
For God alone my soul waits in silence, for my hope is in God. God alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken (Psalm 62:5-6).
The heaviness is not only a macro level concern, it’s also a personal reality. Each day people reach out to the mission I serve seeking help. Even in an affluent community the need is great, and the number of those in need is growing. Each story is unique, yet many begin with loss — loss of income, loss of housing or utilities, or loss of health insurance and access to quality medical care.
For God alone my soul waits in silence, for my hope is in God. God alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken (Psalm 62:5-6).
So What?
Losses of many kinds are easily observable and often quantifiable. In the midst of so much loss, we must not lose hope. Instead, we must join our voices with the psalmist, affirming that our ultimate hope is in God. And, as followers of the Way of Jesus we must recognize that this hope connects us to one another and to our shared purpose: co-creating a world in which all people and all of creation have an opportunity to thrive.
This post was originally published in the Lectionary for Life Series for the Center for Congregational Ethics on January 21, 2021.